RMT Demand Investigation Into Weekend Train Fiasco

Following allegations over the weekend that trains were unable to run between Eastbourne and London Victoria owing to staff shortages, the RMT Union is taking the matter to the Office of Road and Rail.

Southern said the services were unable to run, owing to a ban on drivers working overtime, by the union, Aslef. However, both the RMT and Aslef unions told Eastbourne Buzz they had staff ready and willing to work, but trains still weren’t running. Now the RMT is writing to the ORR, demanding an investigation into the situation.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said, "Southern have moved from a position peddling lies to one of deliberate sabotage of services just to give them another excuse to stick the boot into their own staff. That is a disgraceful and cynical development that proves that the company could not give two hoots about the travelling public, running a safe and reliable rail service or resolving the current dispute.

"Throughout the past year, the Office of Road and Rail, supposedly an independent regulator, have either sat on their hands or sided with Southern Rail. It is now time for the ORR to get off their backsides and thoroughly investigate this scandal on Britain's biggest rail franchise."